I really got a good look at the exterior of a silver 221 with multispoke wheels yesterday. Compared to my older 220 I felt it looked more elegant, stately and confident but at the same time it created a less "young and sporty" look. Kind of like a throw back to the feel of a 140. I'm not saying it's not beautiful. At 38 I felt OK in the 220. At 42 I looke at the 221 and feel like I am too young for it. It's so subjective and psychological but I'm just throwing it out there. By the way I'm sure it will be my next car in less than 2 years unless the 7series is re-done and looking better.

I too just dropped into my local dealer to have a closer look at the W221, and I share your sentiment. The customer rep basically confirmed the intention though when he said that Mercedes-Benz basically shaped it as a mini-Maybach; which is not exactly a beauty in my books.

Oh, and while I know it's been discussed before, to see that 2nd antenna on the trunk just killed the shape for me. The rep said that the 'new' antenna will be less pronounced - does that mean they plan to keep a 2nd antenna on the trunk instead of integrating all functions into the roof antenna?

The proof in the pudding will be the test drive, which I'll take as I get closer to the end of the lease on my A8L as I search for the next car. The soon to be released here S8, the M5 and the just announced B7 from BMW/BMW-Alpina are the front runners right now on my list, but the S550 may blow me away, who knows?

Here is a pic of the antenna that madolfsson posted a couple of threads down. I find it to be acceptable. At least it does not have the fin sticking up.

You hit it with the Maybachian style. That throws me.

The 221 I saw had the newer smaller 2nd antenna and does not detract from the look.

I'm in an A8L now as well and although the car is understated I feel that it has a better drive, look and feel than my 2000 S430 did. I will also look close at the new S for my next car.

This confirms that in order to separate it to acheive the sportiness and exclusivity from the masses that everyone will see driving around town over the next few years, the W221 will need to be tricked out with a good-looking body kit, lowered suspension, and some killer rims - all for the low price of $25K! I'd rather go for a Bentley FS and do nothing to the car except rims (of course, I'm comparing the yet-to-appear S63 AMG W221). The prices are about the same by the time you add all the cosmetics to the W221 - and, most importantly, the value will be there for the Bentley in 3 years, whereas the W221 will be worth at least 40% less + you get a big fat ZERO return on the cosmetics! Believe me, I've been there all too many times. Never again!

What is the second antenna for? I would also prefer to see it integrated.

That's definitely not the 2nd antenna I saw yesterday at the dealership, it had the fin.

While this is an obvious improvement to the 2nd finned antenna, I still find its appearance unfinished - like those aftermarket GPS nav systems installed on rental cars except for a wire running into the trunk.

I'm sure MB has the technical and engineering wherewithal to come up with a cleaner and more elegant solution by integrating all reception functions into one antenna?

I believe that is for Satellite radio.

Yes indeed...they are classy.

the look does seem to be very classy, but to me some cars look fast and fun and the 221 doesnt do that compared to the 220 amg body styling. maybe i will have to wait and see the s63 in person, but for some reason right now the look just doesnt approve with me right now

I had a white one for two days and the response from most people is the car looks very "plain". One person compared it to a Camry! Personally I like it, but only in the darker colors. The 220 looked good in any color IMHO..

I agree that it looks more like a cruiser than the 220...but put the 220 next to a SL....IMO the 221 is big and badass like a flagship sedan should be, although from the rear driving it looks very E class like even though in PICS it seems different and Maybachy. I'd role one and I'm 25...but it would have to have rims and I would probably want to have a sports car on the side....so maybe It wouldn't be plausible...and at that point I would probably opt for a Bentley GT since it would be less $$$ then 2 MB's.

I'd agree with you on the darker colour comment. There was a white one in the showroom along with both a Launch Edition and one in Flint Grey, the white did not look as elegant given the new design language, IMHO. But then again, I never liked the W220 in light colours either, preferring the Black Opal or Grey.

If I were to seriously consider an S550, it'll have to have the AMG package as not only does it have the exterior body enhancements, but the wheels that come on the package are the only ones offered with the car that I like. Of course, the S63 would have it standard.

I agree. Is MB a second-rate lame-o shop all of a sudden? I had a 2003 S Type Jaguar that had no external antennae; everything was integrated into the antennae that were located in the bumpers or somewhere, invisible to the naked eye. For that matter, there's no visible antenna anywhere on my e55 wagon and it's got a bumpin' AM/FM system and navigation. no XM, but that only explains one of the 550's antennae anyhow.

For the price of these new S class cars, I can't believe MB's brass couldn't crack some whip and make them work a little harder on finishing touches like that. On the other hand, perhaps they want the antennae to be visible indicators, like the "kompressor" and "biturbo" badging on other models, as signs of the "fully optioned"/conspicuous consumption status of the car/driver. If that's the case, it reflects poorly on MB and MB's opinion of the class of its customers.

To me, I can't shake the impression that the 221 design looks like the stylists spent too much time in front of their computers in VR modeling space. It's all passable until you get past the second door, after which the styling loses its composure, and whatever grace/elegance there might be elsewhere on the car's exterior (a debateable point to many, alas) is abruptly rendered in favor of, well, what, exactly? Still trying to figure out where they're coming from with that fugly ***-end on that thing!

me too. saw a sport/appearance packaged new S class parked at the lakers/clippers game tonight. looks markedly better than stock, but still not nearly as sleek as the outgoing S class styling. this is MB's "new 7 series"; the outgoing (thru 2002, i think) bimmer 7's were sooooo sweet and sportlich compared to their replacement, no one knew what to think. now, a few years in, most people are used to the new styling, if not exactly enamored of it. this must've sold a ton more 7 series cars, as MB is emulating the move to a "T", it seems...

This thread on the ambivalence as to the design, cosmetic oddities, and questionable materials affecting the W221, tells me a lot on MB as a whole. None of these were ever issues with respect to the line from when it began, up until the 80s or thereabouts.

As I currently see it, it's a sad state of affairs with the brand. I've been a loyal customer of MB since 1987, not having strayed since. Gone are the days when, for decades, MB held the title as #1 in production auto resale values. Ever since they started going down-market with the 190 series in the mid-80s, the mark has been gradually compromised. The straw that finally broke the camel's back was the introduction of the entry-level C-class, being heavily-marketed to the working class masses.

So, now, thanks to none other than an ugly disease called BRAND DILUTION, we can look forward to take a 50% whack on the MSRP after approx. 3 years instead of 10. That never used to be the case. Those stupid enough to pay cash for a heavily deprecitaing asset will suffer the most when they see their $100K+ expenditure dwindle to less than $50K by 2010.

So, we can all enjoy the fresh look while it lasts, because it'll be the newness factor that'll hold values, but only temporarily. When we all start seeing fifty W221s a day like we do now with W220s (at least if you live in an area with some wealth), it'll already be too late. Look on the bright side: Those that missed out on the W220s will be able to scarf up a fully-equipped resale for $10K!

You can all say what you want about other brands like Bentley (owned by VW), RR (BMW), and Aston Martin. At least they know when to say "no thanks" to opening up their production lane to anything less than $150K. They know how to preserve brand retention, as it is echoed in the quality, design, crafstmanship of each and every vehicle, and most importantly, in the protection of the loyalty of their patrons.

Notwithstanding an SLR or Maybach, I don't know what Benz out now will be able to automatically get THE top valet spot without over-tipping come 2010!

Thats ridiculous, what is Mercedes supposed to do stop making cars under 50K or 75K just to be in the same lane with Bentley and Aston-Martin. Bentley is doing the same thing to their once exclusive name also. Building a Bentley out of a VW and pricing it way cheaper than the true Bentley, the Arnage. Mercedes always was a mass-market luxury car maker. Sure the A/B and C-Hatch should have never been made, but they aren't sold here anyway. The reason for Mercedes' drop in resale (which you are correct about) is due to the first generation M, W210 E, 2003-2004 W211 E, and 2000-2002 W220 S-Class models not being up to the snuff, not because they expanded their lineup. Mercedes could build whatever they want and people would buy it, but once they discover the quality isn't up to snuff (like in those models I mentioned) thats what drops the resale.

M

amen to all of that, brotha.

Mercedes has never been a dedicated luxury brand. Their passenger automobiles have always been noted for quality and luxury, but they've been building commercial vans and vehicles for most of their existence. Unlike Bentleys and Rollers, their genesis was markedly more proletarian.

Someone got it right when they said that Mercedes in Germany is like Toyota in Japan, sort of a "general" good car company. I think as long as the cars they make are good, it doesn't matter what market they're in. Problem is they weren't very good, at least not back then. That's what you should criticise.